The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-05-20
The Baltimore Suns Jubilee.

The completion of the fiftieth year of the
Baltimore Sun, which was celebrated on the
18th instant, is marked event n the history
of journalism, from tue fact that the same
mind which planned and the same hands
which guided that luminary when it first
arose are still at the head of the enterprise,
which has grown, perhaps, 10 larger proper
lions than its founder, Mr.. Arunah s. Abel,
ever dreamed it would attain. Its readers
are now numbered by hundreds of thousands,
who rely upon the correctness OF the news it
gives and ponder carefully its utterances on
the varying topics Of the day.
The history of the paper is one of profound
interest, and it is so interviewer with the
progress of the State of Maryland and, indeed,
of the United States, that the two are almost
inseparabe. 1t was started as penny paper,
the first in Baltimore and the third in the
country. From its inception it occupied a
prominent place among its larger compeers,
exhibiting dash and enterprise new in jour
nalism. Its first journalistic exploit was print
ing the Presidents message in its own Office
in December, 1888, and issuing it on Tuesday,
day in advance of any of its competitors.
From that time forward no expense has been
spared in collecting and publishing the news.
During the Mexican war, for instance, the
Sun maintained pony express from New
Orleans TO Baltimore, which consisted OF
sixty blooded horses, and was thereby en-
abled TO give the latest news from Mexico to
its subscribers thirty hours In advance of the
great Southern mail. To the pony express
service of carrier pigeons between New York,
Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore was
added. This enabled the San to publish
foreign news long before its receipt by mail
Every appliance has been eagerly seized by
the Sun that promised to facilitate the col
lection and transmission of news, and o-day
1t Is unrivalled in its means of getting rapid
and correct information from every part of
the world.
The influence Of the Sun has grown with
its years, and 1t is to its credit that this great
influence has been and is exerted in the in
terest of good government. 1t advocated the
Constitution of 1851, by which the people
were freed from many petty tyrannies alien
10 free government Its voice uttered no
uncertain sound during the period when the
Know Nothings, with violence and outrage,
held the State in their grasp, and the fight
made upon that party by the Sun contribu-
ted more than anything else to its overthrow.
Again when the people of Maryland were
groaning under the oppression of the Con-
stitution of 1854. as soon as free speech was
in measure permitted, the Sun advocated
forcibly and with effect the restoration of
political privileges to the thousands who were
DISTINGUISHED, and the present Constitution
came into being in 1867. For this, if for
nothing else, the Sun deserves the gratitude
of every true Marylander. Indeed it has time
and again rendered substantial and import
ant service to the city of Baltimore and the
entire State, and its present prosperity is well
deserved.
The founder of the Sun, Mr.. Arunah S.
Abel, was born in Rhode Island in 1906 and
is now in his Slst year. He was practical
printer and in 1886, along with two other
printers, VIM. u. Swain and Azariah II.
Simmons, started the Public Ledger Of Phila.
delphia. The next year, through Mr.. Abell's
energy the Sun was started by the same firm.
IN 1868 Mr.. Abel became the sole proprietor
rs he had long been the nominal and active
head of the concern. He is now assisted by
his three sons, Messrs. George W. Abel,
Edwin F. Abel and Walter r. Abel. The
frat ia hn or al,
paper. Mr.. Abel was the recipient of many
kindly remembrances, on Tuesday, including
a congra,ulatory dispatch from President
Cleveland. The editorial and city staff of
the paper presented him handsome gold
medal; the machinery, press and mailing de.
partments gave him California armchair
the job printers gold-headed cane-every
department of the vast concern, indeed, gave
expression to goodwill and confidence in
their employer. Some Of them have been
with the Sun nearly from the beginning, and
1t must have been particularly grateful to the
veteran journalist and publisher to hear the
kind words which fell from the lips of his
faithful employees.
Mr.. Abel has sigualzed the occasion by
taking into copartnership with him his three
sons, all of whom have been for years thor
oughly identified with the business of the
paper.
The Agis unites with the press and people
of the State in extending its most hearty
congratulations to the Sun upon the COM
pletion of its fitch year of honorable and
useful life, and in the hope that its venerable
founder may live forever and die happy"